13 Artists Add Their Creative Touch to the Streets of Aberdeen

NeSpoon at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

NeSpoon

For the seventh year, the NuArt Festival, which originated in Norway, has invaded the streets of Aberdeen, Scotland. This year, 13 artists from around the globe came together to create new murals and ephemeral street installations. In doing so, they added to the vast collection of art that the festival has brought to the Scottish city.

Some of our favorite muralists, like NeSpoon and SNIK, were on hand to leave their creative touch on the walls of the city. As usual, NeSpoon connected with a local lace maker to gain inspiration for her mural. After being introduced to Evelyn Currie from the Bon Accord Bobbins Lace Group in Aberdeen and learning about her 40-year passion for lace, NeSpoon used one of her projects as the basis for the mural. The piece depicts the Scottish thistle, the country's national flower.

For their enormous mural titled An Ending, A Beginning, SNIK hand-cut nearly 400 feet of stencils. It's one of the duo's largest pieces ever and perfectly shows off their skills at creating ethereal portraits. Other notable works include a colorful mural by Brazilian artist Thiago Mazza. Using his skills, he transformed a drab parking structure into a fresh botanical garden.

This year's festival was built around the theme of “rewilding.” While often used in discussions about the environment, rewilding is also an interesting take on the development of street art. Where personal freedom and transgressive acts have now been replaced by permission and commissions. NuArt Aberdeen looks at how the art form can balance its roots in passion and spontaneity with the rules and regulations that come along with institutional collaborations.

Take a look at more art from NuArt Aberdeen, including work by Swoon, Escif, Tamara Alves, and Manolo Mesa.

NuArt Aberdeen is now in its sixth year.

SNIK at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

SNIK

Thiago Mazza at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

Thiago Mazza

Tamara Alves NuArt Aberdeen 2023

Tamara Alves

Eloise Gillow at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

Eloise Gillow

Swoon at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

Swoon

Manolo Mesa at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

Manolo Mesa

Over the course of three days, 13 international artists added their touch of creativity to the Granite City.

Escif at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

Escif

Tamara Alves at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

Tamara Alves (Photo: Hannah Judah Photography)

Thiago Mazza at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

Thiago Mazza

Eloise Gillow at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

Eloise Gillow

NeSpoon at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

NeSpoon

SNIK at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

SNIK

Swoon at NuArt Aberdeen 2023

Swoon

NuArt Aberdeen: Website | Instagram | Facebook

All images by Brian Tallman except where noted. My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by NuArt Aberdeen.

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Staff Editor and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book "Street Art Stories Roma" and most recently contributed to "Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini." You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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